1. AP World History Notes Chapter 8
Islamic World
AP World History Notes
Chapter 8

2. The Homeland of Islam Originated on the Arabian Peninsula
Had long been inhabited by nomadic Arabs = the Bedouins
Herded sheep and camels
Lived in fiercely independent clans and tribes
Polytheistic - Variety of gods and spirits
Practiced polygyny – having more than one wife.

3. Mecca Major commercial city
Even though polytheistic – the Bedouins worshipped a supreme deity: Allah
Site of the Ka’aba (large black stone) = most important religious shrine in Arabia – representing the supreme deity.
Housed representations of about 360 deities

4. Arabia – Connections to the World
Participation in long-distance trade
Location between the Byzantine Empire (to the northwest) and the Persian Empire (to the northeast)
Result = many Jews and Christians, lived among the Arabs in Arabia
Many of their monotheistic ideas began to influence the Arabs

5. The Messenger Muhammad (570 – 632 CE) Born in Mecca
A camel trader (contact with Jews and Christians)
Troubled by the religious corruption and social inequalities of Mecca
Often withdrew into the mountains to meditate
610 CE = he had an overwhelming religious experience with an angel providing him a message from Allah.
These revelations were collected in the sacred scripture known as the Quran or Koran.

6. The Messenger
He was the last in a long line of prophets, including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others
Said he had God’s FINAL revelation to humankind.
Monotheistic → Allah is the only god
Rejected the other deities housed in the Ka’aba
Rejected Christian idea of the Trinity

7. Transformation of Arabia
Muhammad’s message soon attracted opposition from Mecca’s elite families; they didn’t like his:
Claim to be the “messenger of Allah”
Strict monotheism
Call for social and commercial reforms
Caused Muhammad and his followers to be persecuted.
Muhammad and his followers fled Mecca in 622 and escaped to Medina (the flight is called the Hegira).

8. Muhammad’s return to Mecca
Muhammad returned ten years later and conquered the city. Mecca preserved as a holy city and place of pilgrimage
The Ka’aba preserved as the central shrine to the one god
All others idols were destroyed

9. The Message: 5 Pillars of Islam
1) Faith: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
2) Prayer: Should be performed 5 times daily while facing in the direction of Mecca
3) Almsgiving: Supporting the poor and needy of the community
4) Fasting: Occurs during month of Ramadan
5) The Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime

10. The Message: Another Principle
Jihad = “struggle” to strive to improve oneself and society
“Greater jihad” = interior personal effort to avoid greed and selfishness, and to strive toward living a god-conscious life
“Lesser jihad” = “jihad of the sword” = belief that the Quran authorized armed struggle against the forces of unbelief and evil
versus

11. Sharia – Islamic Code of Law
Established customs after the death of Muhammad:
Don’t eat pork or drink alcoholic beverages
Men could have up to four wives.
Bans gambling.
Equality of all believers.
Worship in a mosque.

12. Divisions and Controversies
The “Rightly Guided Caliphs” ( )
First 4 caliphs after Muhammad
(Caliph = the political and religious leader of the Islamic community)
Close companions of Muhammad
Chosen by Muslim elders of Medina
Division surfaced almost immediately
Sunni vs. Shi’ite (Shia) Muslims
Abu Bakr
The 1st Rightly
Guided Caliph

13. Sunnis vs. Shi’ites
Believe the caliph is the rightful political and military leader of Islam
Believe the caliph should be chosen by the Islamic community
Believe the caliph can be any devout Muslim
Religious authority comes from the larger Islamic community; particularly ulama = religious scholars
Believe that the leader of the Islamic community should be a blood descendant/relative of Muhammad
Religious authority comes from prayer leaders called imams
Imams = only ones that can correctly interpret divine revelations and Islamic law

14. Islamic Caliphs
As the Arab Empire grew, caliphs were transformed from modest Arab chiefs into absolute, all-powerful monarchs
Standing army
Centralized systems of taxation and money
2 major ruling dynasties came to control the Arab Empire during this time = Umayyad dynasty and Abbasid dynasty

15. The Arab Empire Stretched from Spain to India
Extended to areas in Europe, Asia, and Africa
With the expansion of the Arab Empire came the spread of:
Islamic faith
Arabic language
Culture of Arabia

17. Widespread Conversion to Islam – WHY?
War and Conquest
Conversion to Islam not forced on anyone in the Arab Empire.
In fact: Jews and Christians were all considered “people of the book” and were given the status of dhimmis “zimmis” – (protected subjects)
Widespread Conversion to Islam – WHY?
Islam sponsored by a powerful state  Wealth and prestige of Arab Empire attracted people
Successful conquest called into question the power of old gods; perhaps Allah really is all-powerful
Many incentives for converting
Ex: Didn’t have to pay jizya “chizya” = tax on non-Muslims
Ex: Could hold official positions; social mobility

18. Umayyad Dynasty (661 – 750) Vast expansion of Arab Empire
Caliphs became hereditary rulers
Empire’s capital moved from Medina to city of Damascus in Syria
Ruling class = Arab military aristocracy
The Dome of the Rock
Built in Jerusalem in 691 CE
Built by Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik

19. Umayyad Dynasty (661 – 750) Overthrown because:
Non-Arabs resented their status as second- class citizens
Shia Muslims believed Umayyad caliphs were illegitimate
Many Arabs protested the luxurious living of their rulers

20. Abbasid Dynasty (750 – 1258)
Built up a new capital for the empire in Baghdad
Non-Arabs now played a prominent role
Political unity = didn’t last long
By the mid-800s = many local governors or military commanders asserted autonomy over their regions
Islamic world fractured into multiple “sultanates”
Dynasty officially ended when conquered by the Mongols in 1258

21. Women and Men in Early Islam Quran improves the status of women
Examples of rights & protection for women within the Quran include:
Rights to inherit property and keep it after marriage.
Women could testify in court, but testimony worth half of that of a man.
Women could divorce men and even in some cases receive a cash payment.